Iranian, American teenagers electrocuted at swimming pool of Bangkok condominium

[Artisi]

Swimming pool with high voltage lighting, no RCDs, no earthing - An accident waiting to happen. When will these people ever learn?

Never, as a RCD / RCBO probably costs about Bht 3000 - much too expensive to even consider for saving a life.

[Artisi]

" In Thailand I always touch any thing metal with the back of my hand first"

Same same, although I always try not to touch anything metal.

[lee b]

until safety standards are met this kind of thing will happen. Cutting corners to save a few baht can kill people. Will it stop, no i doubt it.

[I knew this would happen]

Swimming pool with high voltage lighting, no RCDs, no earthing - An accident waiting to happen. When will these people ever learn?

Never, as a RCD / RCBO probably costs about Bht 3000 - much too expensive to even consider for saving a life.

What a sad story

Don´t forget that it´s not just the presence of saftey equipment, it also has to be installed correctly and needs maintenance. Most workers are NOT qualified and everyone can do everything!

This is where all the "mai ben rai" leads in the end......loss of life.

[harrycallahan]

Electrocution doesn't have to mean deceased. Assume it does in this case, though I've combed the article and don't find it written.

[Suradit69]

sympathies to the families, again we see the thai "electricians" quality of work, if you can move your fingers you qualify but then this applies to all aspects of building

Sad that some people will use any occasion, no matter how sad, as an opportunity to bash Thais.

[circusman]

Swimming pool with high voltage lighting, no RCDs, no earthing - An accident waiting to happen. When will these people ever learn?

So you have been on the scene. It is the only way to make such statements.

[luckizuchinni]

This is a terrible tragedy, and my heart goes out to both of the families. There is one thing, though, that may not comfort the families, but I think it is noteworthy that it was an Iranian boy who tried to pull his friend, an American, off the pole. It is horrible that both died so needlessly, but if two boys from these countries were friends, and if one died trying to save the other, maybe the countries themselves can get along together better?

[332]

sympathies to the families, again we see the thai "electricians" quality of work, if you can move your fingers you qualify but then this applies to all aspects of building

A basic rule here:

If Somchai has a shop for electrical repair, auto repair, anything at all, it doesn't mean that they have any experience, qualifications or knowledge. It only means one thing...

At some point in the past Somchai had enough money to buy a sign.

If Somchai says that he's an electrician, mechanic or anything else. It only means one thing....

That Somchai can speak.

RIP to the two kids.

Edited May 30, 2014 by 332

[louthlincs]

The lad who tried to help his mate by pulling him off - Hero...

[bdenner]

Swimming pool with high voltage lighting, no RCDs, no earthing - An accident waiting to happen. When will these people ever learn?

So you have been on the scene. It is the only way to make such statements.

So in your expert opinion what happened?

Obviously the lighting in close proximity to the pool was powered by a lethal voltage which was not protected, is this acceptable to you regardless to whatever statement I make?

Or is it you are representing the condo management? Your avatar says it all!

Edited May 30, 2014 by bdenner

[spermwhale]

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What a terrible tragedy for these boys and their families.

It's no point looking for blame as it's likely none will be found.

...and little use hoping that others will learn from this and fix other potential problems...but that may be wishful thinking as well.

Sad.

Yes, it's better to bury your head in the sand like Thais do and continue saying mai bpen rai. The safety standards in this country, especially as it concerns electricity, are appalling. Walk down any street and look up and you'll see the dreadful state of the wiring here. Not to mention no efforts to ground wiring in residences.

It's a damn shame that these kids died because of shoddy electrical work. There is something that can be done. They could sue the shit out of the landlord and the original contractor and hopefully get a fat award. If that happens enough in this country, the property owners would shape up as would the contractors. But unfortunately things are so squirrely here, you'd likely not be able to ID the contractor.

[unanimosity]

Swimming pool with high voltage lighting, no RCDs, no earthing - An accident waiting to happen. When will these people ever learn?

Thai electricity different, no need earth.

[billbellamy]

Did they die?

[belg]

off course, no ground wire, even in hotels

[I knew this would happen]

Swimming pool with high voltage lighting, no RCDs, no earthing - An accident waiting to happen. When will these people ever learn?

Thai electricity different, no need earth.

Yes you worrie too mutt, no need earth.....

Maybe Europe is a police state in many ppl´s eyes, but at least you cannot build a new house without an RCD for every plug.

Edited May 30, 2014 by I knew this would happen

[nontabury]

sympathies to the families, again we see the thai "electricians" quality of work, if you can move your fingers you qualify but then this applies to all aspects of building

Sad that some people will use any occasion, no matter how sad, as an opportunity to bash Thais.

Maybe on some occasions it's warranted. Far better than leaving your head in the sand.

[Jim walker]

Thailand by word is Safety Safety and once again Safety always a priority and in the UK you can’t move without a risk assessment and a method statement country totally stifled with safety rules.

Shocking sad for the parents of the children R.I.P kids taken far too early in life.

[Fullstop]

no earthing - An accident waiting to happen. When will these people ever learn?

When they are invaded and colonised. Otherwise ... never.

[bdenner]

Swimming pool with high voltage lighting, no RCDs, no earthing - An accident waiting to happen. When will these people ever learn?

So you have been on the scene. It is the only way to make such statements.

OK, another line of defense on behalf of the Condo:-

Being late the pool was closed, the boys AND witnesses broke in, found a 'lead light' and extension cord and placed it by the pool so as they could swim. The 'lead light' they found or bought with them was faulty, the extension cord was typical of Thai 'Figure 8' configuration - no Earth - so lets assume the Condo, being of exemplary construction, had an Earth at the GPO but, alas, it was not in use.

To @circusman - WHERE WAS THE RCD?

[alfred3333]

Here's the condo pool. Looks pretty normal to me but lethal. &lt;deleted&gt;

http://prntscr.com/3nybmw

[Johnnie99]

I suppose now they will fix that loose wire ...

Sad, mad and stupid.

Maintenance? Ali na?

[Johnnie99]

I suppose now they will fix that loose wire ...

Sad, mad and stupid.

Maintenance? Ali na?

[kurnell]

Horrendous. I have kids. Does anyone know a good electrician that can make an inspection of a private house?

[Equalizer]

There is one way to stop all this and i have said it a million times. There should be a world tourism organisations set up and each country member should have to contribute a percentage of the annual projected tourism revenue for that particular country, in conjunction with the numbers of visitors. Thailand's tourism industry is 7.5% of GDP or 1.44 Trillion Baht. Just 1% of this would be 1.4 billion Baht. What is the incentive to make things right when ultimately the country the casualty comes from ends up paying for it by way of insurance. I say if these countries are willing to hoover up the income then they should also take responsibility for it. You would be lucky to receive a million baht for a death by negligence on the part of the country here in a Thai court. They would soon wake up if they learned that said person was awarded 20 million baht compensation from its coffers in the WTO court. Here there are simply too many clear cut cases of sheer negligence that cannot be defended and should be punished accordingly.

[Fullstop]

Does anyone know a good electrician that can make an inspection of a private house?

Yes ... but he lives in Australia.

[rebelplatoon]

Sad story. Hopeless electric wiring here. Normal pools have low voltage lights.

[Emster23]

I assume all electrical wiring here is faulty and out to kill me. One reason I wear rubber sandals even in condo. I wish it were shocking the near total lack of concern about basic safety standards, but this kind of "accident" is so common here. I hope not to get "shocked" like these two unfortunates were. RIP.

[tezzainoz]

Does anyone know a good electrician that can make an inspection of a private house?

Yes ... but he lives in Australia.

so please give us details

Only needs 10 members at Australian prices and you can pay for his holiday

[joshstiles]

Satire

I hope the foreign parent who was thinking of sending their teenage student to thailand for 2 semesters is readying this.....BEWARE......as you see missy.....you don't need grenades to kill people....electricity also works

and before you bash me for writing what you believe is very insensitive....THIS IS A FOREIGN PARENTAL ALERT!!!!

Let the bashing begin....but before you do remember this post?

New Visa Rules Exclude Everyone Except Sex Tourists, Alcoholics, Drug Addicts, Ravers, Illiterate Troglodytes....

written by a Root Admin.....let's not have any double standards now

bring on the smoke...............